Far from being free
Anti government protests is the practice of the day evidenced in particular in the Middle East countries from Morroco across to Yemen. Now in America, the 'Occupy Wall Street' is gradually growing in intense around the country as more and more people are realizing it is their moment to express the feelings of frustrations and anxiety that the financial meltdown of 2008 has caused. In South Africa, as Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu celebrates his 80th birthday, we here of how he blasted the government of Jacob Zuma for refusing to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama who was to attend the birthday celebrations. Interesting that this denial is driven by pressures from China.
There are countries still recovering from earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural climate related disasters. The small countries of the Pacific like Tuvalu, Kiribati are experiencing the effects of global warming. Samoa is experiencing drought in some areas. There is poverty and people displaced by economic and political situations. There is poverty, people dying in thousands including soldiers who are fighting peacetime wars, and those killed in antigovernment protests.
Also in New Zealand where the Rugby World Cup tournament is about to play the quarter finals, the International Rugby Board (IRB) is being called to account in the social media for it's unfair treatment of 'minnows'. The IRB schedules and the deliberate rulings by particular referees seen as contributing to outcomes of games for minnows. Rugby players feel the injustice but have no say. It needed someone like Manu Samoa player Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu to express in attractive words how he felt on 'twitter' for the rugby corporation to take notice. Now the player is being banned from rugby and is awaiting a legal hearing with the IRB.
Such is our world - operating a class system where there is a divide - between rich and poor, greedy for profit and those in the majority just getting a stable income, dictators and democratic leaders, private business and public service.
I pray for love and understanding in all these situations. I pray that the sin of greed will be defeated. I pray for a more just world for the future generations.
There are countries still recovering from earthquakes, tsunamis, and other natural climate related disasters. The small countries of the Pacific like Tuvalu, Kiribati are experiencing the effects of global warming. Samoa is experiencing drought in some areas. There is poverty and people displaced by economic and political situations. There is poverty, people dying in thousands including soldiers who are fighting peacetime wars, and those killed in antigovernment protests.
Also in New Zealand where the Rugby World Cup tournament is about to play the quarter finals, the International Rugby Board (IRB) is being called to account in the social media for it's unfair treatment of 'minnows'. The IRB schedules and the deliberate rulings by particular referees seen as contributing to outcomes of games for minnows. Rugby players feel the injustice but have no say. It needed someone like Manu Samoa player Eliota Fuimaono Sapolu to express in attractive words how he felt on 'twitter' for the rugby corporation to take notice. Now the player is being banned from rugby and is awaiting a legal hearing with the IRB.
Such is our world - operating a class system where there is a divide - between rich and poor, greedy for profit and those in the majority just getting a stable income, dictators and democratic leaders, private business and public service.
I pray for love and understanding in all these situations. I pray that the sin of greed will be defeated. I pray for a more just world for the future generations.
posted by Meripa Weir at 11:32 AM
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